Summary of Book 2 - Chapter 12

The Necessity of Christ Becoming man in Order to Fulfill the Office of Mediator

As Calvin so aptly puts it "For since our iniquities, like a cloud intervening between us and him, had entirely alienated us from the kingdom of heaven, no one that could not approach to God could be a mediator for the restoration of peace."

Who could approach to God to reconcile sinful man with holy sinless God? It could not be a child of Adam. All humans dreaded the Divine presence due to original sin. It could not be angels, because they lacked a head and a direct connection with humans.

So, God had to do the work. It was necessary for God to come down to us by His grace and lift us up out of our sinful condition. So, God sends his Son to become Immanuel or God With Us.

Jesus, the God-Man came to earth, paid the price for our sins at Calvary, and became our mediator with God, the Father. Who better to be a mediator between heaven and earth? Jesus was fully a man. He suffered as we did and experienced human life fully. He was also God, present with the Father at the beginning during the creation of the universe.

Because of Adam's work, we humans became heirs of hell. But Jesus made us heirs of the kingdom of heaven if we confess our sins, ask forgiveness, surrender our lives to him and believe in his resurrection.  We were ruined by the disobedience of Adam.  We are saved by the obedience of Jesus. Jesus took on the nature of Adam and paid his sin debt in full for Adam and all his children.

So, Jesus had to be the mediator. He holds the hand of his heavenly father and he holds our hand. His divine nature allows him to be present with the Father. And his human nature allows him to be present with us. And Jesus earned the right to be our King and also to be King of the Angels.